Verde Volume 26 Issue 2

WHAT NOW?

Community reacts to the election, pg. 15

V.

VERDE MAGAZINE

December 2024 Volume 26 Issue 2

ON THE COVER

In a photo by features editor Kensie Pao, Palo Alto High School seniors Heiren Noone and Sophie Williams hug as they react to the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. The title — “What now?” — showcases the sense of uncertainty that many people in the community face as Donald Trump has been elected to serve another term as president. What will the true impacts of this historic presidency be? Only time will tell.

Publication policy

Verde Magazine, a news and features magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. Verde is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Letters to the editors

The staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to verdemagazine1@gmail. com or 50 Embarcadero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Advertising

The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with Verde, please contact our business manager at verdebusiness5@ gmail.com.

Printing & distribution

Verde is printed five times a year in September, November, February, April and May by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Paly Parent Teacher Student Association mails Verde to every student’s home. All Verde work is available at verdemagazine.com.

Editors-in-Chief

Alma Bendavid

Lia Cardwell

Lizzy Williams

Managing Editors Vit Do

Divya Gandhi

Cate Graney

Features Editors

Chloe Huang

Kensie Pao

Profiles Editor

Sophie Mies

Culture Editor

Maya Rajbhandari

Perspectives Editors

Eva Chang Zachary Crystal

News Editor

Niaz Alasti

Launch Editor

Lilia Kuzmicheva

Editorials Editor

Andrew Kassel

Senior Sports Editor

Otto Kiss Meyerfreund

Assistant Sports Editor

Stefan Eriksson

Business Manager

Maya Rajbhandari

Social Media Manager

Julie Yang

Statistician

Jaron Leung

Photo Director

Lara Saslow

Cover Director

Nathalia Arias

Staff Writers

Ryan Saket

Lilo Sayag

Yardenne Sternheim

Ethan Zhang

Adviser

Paul Kandell

FROM THE EDITORS LESSONS FROM A PIVOTAL YEAR

As we close out the year and turn the final pages of 2024, we find ourselves reflecting on a momentous chapter in the American story. This year’s election season has been nothing short of historic, marked by intense debates, increased political coverage on social media and unexpected twists.

President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race and the unprecedented reality of Donald Trump becoming the first convicted felon in the White House has upended expectations and left the nation facing new, uncharted territory.

In this issue, we explore the impact of the election on a local level. While much attention was given to the battle for the White House, we shift focus to the critical state-level policies that will have lasting impacts on local communities. News editor Niaz Alasti and perspectives editor Zachary Crystal explain the impact of California’s 2024 ballot measures in “Piecing together propositions.”

As always, our goal is not only to inform but to inspire thoughtful dialogue. Managing editor Cate Graney explores Palo Alto High School students’ reactions to the elections in her article, “Post election perspectives.” In “ My body, your choice” business manager/culture editor Maya Rajbhandari and features editor Chloe Huang explore the consequences of Trump’s reelection on women’s rights.

The election has been a reminder that democracy is a living, breathing process — one that requires our attention, our participation and our willingness to listen to other voices. Features editor Kensie Pao shares her opinions on political polarization and its impact on our democracy in a perspective article, “Don’t say the word ‘Republican.’”

Moving into 2025, it’s apparent that the election may be over, but the conversations it has sparked are just beginning. ALMA, LIA, VIT, DIVYA, CATE, LIZZY

SAN JOSE FLEA MARKET pg.

the verdicts

Students should take more parking responsibility

ACROSS PALO ALTO

High School, there are frequent grievances about the campus parking situation. While we acknowledge parking can be stressful, students can take more accountability for their parking choices, and work together to make the parking situation better for everyone.

We spoke with multiple students who believe that parking at Paly is a major problem, especially in the Churchill parking lot. Many student-athletes said that they prefer to park in the Churchill parking lot to avoid having to walk a long way with their gear to get to practice.

Junior Dylan Liao, who plays water polo, said that parking in the Churchill lot is more convenient for athletes going to practice.

“You have to walk all the way there [to practice from the other side of the school], and then Coach is wondering ‘Where have you been?’ But the problem is that you have to park basically a mile away from the actual pool,” Liao said.

Student parking in the Churchill lot is often fully occupied, leaving student-athletes to park in the Embarcadero parking lot. To mitigate traffic and open up more spots for those who need to park in the Churchill lot, students should be more considerate of the needs of others, especially student-athletes, when they decide where to park.

Students who don’t have after-school activities in the athletics center or pool area could consider parking in the Embarcadero lot to leave spots in the Churchill lot open. Students who live closer to school could also take advantage of alternative transportation options, such as biking or carpooling, instead of driving to school alone. This would leave parking spaces available for those who need it more, including athletes and students who live further away from school.

In addition to reducing traffic and providing more parking spaces, carpooling and biking are more environmentally friendly. According to a study by the University of Oxford, choosing a bike over a car just once

a day reduces the average person’s carbon emissions from transportation by 67%. Not only will biking to school significantly help the climate, but it will avoid the hassle of parking in the morning. Often, it can be faster to bike to school than to drive.

However, maintaining a convenient parking situation is a collective effort. Student-athletes could also take more responsibility for their own parking. If they want to secure a spot in the Churchill parking lot, they could arrive at school earlier to beat the traffic.

Additionally, the Paly administration works hard to give out parking permits to students, and should not be blamed for parking struggles.

Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said that there have not been any major issues with parking this year.

“I have not seen any negative things so far,” Berkson said. “I thought maybe the El Camino closing would be a problem, but there appears to be plenty of open spots.”

Berkson also said that parking has improved at Paly over the past few years due to a decrease in students.

“The total number of students in

school has dropped over the past few years from a high of 2,200 plus to around 1,875,” Berkson said. “When the population was higher, it was a pretty tight fit.”

If you are not a student-athlete, it is clear that parking is not an issue because of the abundance of spots in the Embarcadero parking lot. Regardless of whether or not you are a student-athlete, remember that driving to school and having the option of campus parking is a luxury that not everyone has.

By being more considerate and efficient when choosing how to commute to school, Paly students can help athletes who have practices on the Churchill side of the school and help reduce carbon emissions if they choose to bike or carpool. When choosing how to get to school, remember to consider that driving to school is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted. v

having my stuff [sports equipment] so my parents don’t have to drop it off.”

The Verdicts editorial section expresses the collective opinion of the Verde Magazine staff.

SEEKING A SPOT — Palo Alto High School junior Jonathan Bakhash looks out from his car towards the Embarcadero parking lot. “It [driving to school] has been really helpful,” Bakhash said. “Just

Photo: Jaron Leung

launch ASB ANSWERS

With social commisioner Jessica Wong

Q: What events are ASB planning for next semester?

A: Next semester, ASB is excited to host Spring Spirit Week, Love Week, class socials, fundraisers and prom. We’ll also celebrate holidays with events for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and April Fool’s Day.

Q: Is ASB hosting any new activities this year?

A: This year each class will have unique socials, along with exciting spinoffs of many of our past events, so stay tuned for more updates on these and other upcoming activities.

Verde?

Can you find the “V” hidden somewhere on this spread?

Art by Sophia Kelly

Art by Vit Do

Text, design and photos by LILIA

KUZMICHEVA

Verbatim: What’s on your holiday wishlist?

“I want some new clothes and some new socks.”

— Reed Hoffman, freshman

“What I want most ... is to spend more quality time with my family because my brother is at college and my family is always working.”

— Dylan Berger, junior

Car Essentials

“My number one thing on my Christmas wishlist is the Doc Martens crazy horse leather [boots].”

— Annie Kasanin, sophomore

With junior Amalia Tormala peaker

sports

FLYING FORWARD

ULTIMATE FRISBEE TEAM FOR BAY AREA TEENS

AFRISBEE FLOATS IN THE air, from one teammate to another. With mere inches to go before it reaches his hands, Anush Patel, a sophomore at Gunn, comes flying through the air, snatching it before it reaches its target. This is a common sight during practice sessions of a local ultimate frisbee team named Control.

Ultimate is a non-contact, self-refereed team sport played with a flying disc called a frisbee. Games are played between two sides of seven each. The aim of the game is to score points by catching the disc in the opponent’s end-zone. The field is approximately the length of a football field.

from Gunn administrators, as it is not affiliated with the school, leading them to change their name two years ago.

“Gunn High School is not super crazy about us and it’s confusing for a lot of the players,” said Robert “Rob” Srinivasiah, a Control coach. “We wanted to be clear that other players from nearby schools can play.”

“ It [ultimate]’s more laid back and more chill and really focuses on having fun and good sportsmanship.”

— Noah Stone, captain of Control

Control, formerly called Gunn Control, began in 2014, as a club started by Gunn High School seniors Victor Kao and Lucas Munro. The team received pushback

Before starting as a coach at Control in 2021, Srinivasiah was the coach for Palo Alto High School’s club Ultimate team along with Paly psychology teacher, Chris Farina. The team eventually disbanded due to low participation, and its remaining players started playing for Control.

The team won the state championship three times back-to-back from 2017 to 2019 after upsetting Berkeley High Coup.

Ultimate is a popular game, with over 60,000 registered players in 2019 in the U.S.

Because of the popularity of the sport, there are opportunities for these players to play in college and go on to play professional ultimate. However, professional ultimate isn’t very lucrative. Most players make very little, and the main benefit of playing professionally is that gear, grub and playing fields are free. Still, many players disregard the low pay and play for their love of the sport.

Noah Stone, a captain for Control, said more people should take note of Ultimate.

“It’s [ultimate] different from most other high school sports, because it’s not as serious,” said Stone. “It’s more laid back and more chill and really focuses on having fun and good sportsmanship.” v

FLOATING FRISBEES — The ultimate frisbee team, Control, practices on a Tuesday afternoon. Anush Patel, a sophomore who plays on the team, aspires to play pro ultimate one day. “I definitely want to play college and then probably pro,” Patel said. Photo: Stefan Eriksson

Text by STEFAN ERIKSSON and OTTO KISS MEYERFREUND

HOW PALY ATHLETES HANDLE MAJOR SETBACKS INJURY INTO INSPIRATION

DURING A PALO ALTO High School versus King’s Academy football game, Viking senior and kicker Henry Harding was rushed to a hospital after a big hit against an opposition player. Later, an MRI scan revealed that Harding tore both his MCL and ACL.

Unfortunately, injuries like Harding’s are common among young athletes. According to Stanford Medicine, more than 3.5 million children aged 14 and younger get injured annually playing sports.

However, the psychological effects that come with injuries are often ignored. For many high school athletes who may be looking to get recruited, unexpected injuries can be devastating.

“About a week after the injury happened, I was sort of in a rough place, but I really had to think to myself, ‘How can I just be sorry for myself?,” Harding said.

Harding, a two-sport athlete who was already committed to the College of Holy Cross for baseball before his injury, expressed concern regarding his recruitment.

“They had let me know that if I did commit and I got injured, I would still be committed, but I was still pretty nervous making that phone call,” Harding said.

Mason Benkard, a senior and former soccer player, also had problems with injuries, which led him to quit the sport.

“I’ve broken my foot and my arm a bunch of times,” Benkard said. “For my worst broken bone, I was out for six months.”

Benkard said if it weren’t for his injuries, he wouldn’t have quit soccer.

“I would still be taking soccer seriously, spending every day playing, and practicing,” Benkard said. “Soccer works as a kind of escape. ... You don’t have to think about school or any other parts of life that can be hard.”

Sophomore Mailangi Tongi,

a Paly

football player who tore his MCL, echoed the sentiments of Harding and Benkard.

“I didn’t like the feeling of being out and watching the game,” Tongi said. “It just felt really wrong to me.”

Tongi said the most challenging part of his injury was returning to playing.

“It was really hard because the first couple of games being back I rarely played, so I knew I had to gain the [coachses] trust during practice,” Tongi said.

While injuries are both physically and psychologically challenging, Harding be-

lieves that a good way to deal with them is by doing the best you can in the moment.

“Nobody else is coming to save me, so the way I stay healthy and keep a good mentality is going to physical therapy and doing everything I can every day.” v

RECIPE FOR RECOVERY — Paly senior Henry Harding throws a pitch while dealing with a knee injury. “I’ve focused on just doing good in class, paying attention and getting my grades right because I have so much extra free time,” Harding said. Photo: Otto Kiss Meyerfreund

very

PAEA-endorsed members to join school board

THREE NEW MEMBERS who were endorsed by the Palo Alto Educators Association were elected to the Palo Alto Board of Education, giving union members hope for good communication in the future.

The new members, who were elected Nov. 5, are Rowena Chiu, Alison Kamhi and Josh Salcman.

Daniel Nguyen, a member of the

ENDANGERING ENVIRONMENTS — A child scooters across Matadero Creek. The coolant doesn’t pose much danger to the environment. “If it gets into streams, it could change the pH, given the level with the dilution, it’s probably not going to be that bad,” Palo Alto High School environment science teacher Nicole Loomis said. Photo: Yardenne Sternheim

PAEA and a Palo Alto High School math teacher, said that he is very happy with the election results and believes that most teachers are as well.

“It’s important to us to not [only] have board members that always listen, [and] will always do what we ask, but at the very least we want a seat at the table,” Nguyen said. “We want board members who are communicative with us and are willing to

see issues from our perspective.”

Nguyen said that he hopes the new additions to the school board will improve communication and negotiations between teacher union members and the board.

“[We want to make] sure that our teachers are compensated more equitably and having discussions and bargaining sessions that are more productive,” Nguyen said.

by LARA SASLOW

Coolant spills in Matadero

TESLA SPILLED 916 GALLONS of diluted coolant solution in Matadero Creek on Oct. 17, raising concern among residents about the surrounding environment and potentially leading to a fine for the company.

City officials clarified that the contents spilled in the creek pose no danger to health or to the environment.

According to Chief Communications Officer for the city, Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, 5.9 gallons of the total solution was Meras 1020, which is composed of disodium tetraborate pentahydrate and sodium

Creek

hydroxide. According to Palo Alto High School environment science teacher Nicole Loomis, when sodium hydroxide is released into bodies of water, it could change the pH levels in the water and affect organisms.

Because the concentration of the toxic substance was 0.00647%, there is less of a chance that the solution will affect the surrounding environment.

It’s currently unknown what repercussions Tesla will face.

“Tesla was potentially storing it on-site without a permit, so I think there will likely be fines associated with that,” Loomis said.

by YARDENNE STERNHEIM

SCHOOL BOARD SHARES Members of the Palo Alto Board of Education held a meeting on Sept. 10, before the election for new board members. Daniel Nguyen, a member of the Palo Alto Educators Association, says that he is excited for the new members to join the board. “We are

proud of the board members we endorsed,” Nguyen said. Photo: Divya Gandhi

Edited and designed by NIAZ ALASTI

to be able to use both [teen and senior citizen spaces], surpassed my expectations at the beginning of the entire process,” Palo Alto Mayor Greer Stone said.

New center to host seniors, teens

STUDENTS ARE EXCITED at the prospect of a new downtown community center slated to open in the spring of 2025.

The downtown center at 445 Bryant St. is proposed as a North Palo Alto alternative to the Mitchell Park Community Center, with a focus on teenagers and seniors. The space will also host art, fitness and summer camps, according to the city’s 2025 fiscal budget report.

Palo Alto High School junior Ella Segev said she is excited for the chance to have another place to go for studying.

“I'm always looking for new places to study and be productive,” Segev said. “The Mitchell Park teen center and the library has always been a place that me and my friends go to, and if there's another space like this that is supportive of students. That's definitely a plus and could really support me in my school life.”

According to Palo Alto Mayor Greer Stone, the City Council decided to use the space as a multipurpose building during a meeting on June 3.

In addition to teens and seniors, the area will host La Comida de California, a non-profit organization that gives out warm meals to senior citizens every day

Palo Alto Link explores service changes

PALO ALTO LINK plans to cease transit to Palo Alto High School during school commuting hours, leaving students unable to use the service to commute to school.

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. La Comida’s previous location, the Avenidas building, had closed down, so this nearby center is crucial for them to continue their service.

“To be able to allow La Comida to continue to serve our cities early and to provide them an opportunity to be able to have healthy lunches and just as importantly, an opportunity to be able to socialize with one another is great,” Stone said.

After the food distribution, the building will be focused on the city’s teenagers.

“To be able to engage in teen services and various recreational activities, and just have a space to be kids together is another real critical need,” Stone said

The building, which previously hosted the gym Form Fitness, will need renovations to adapt the space to its intended uses. It's currently unknown how much this project will cost.

“There's going to have to be probably significant renovations to the space to be able to make sure that we're utilizing the space well,” Stone said. “I was really excited to be able to support this sharing of a community resource, because I think this is going to be able to allow us to address two real, critical needs in the community, one senior citizens as and, our youth.”

by ZACHARY CRYSTAL and RYAN SAKET

Originally, Link notified users of service changes starting Nov. 1, stating that stops will not be made to Paly’s campus between 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m., yet the changes were postponed to an unspecified date after November. However, transport to nearby locations like Town & Country will continue.

The notification established a standard fare of $4 for all users due to insufficient funding. Paly junior Yoray Chen says she wishes there had been a longer adjustment period.

“It wasn’t even two weeks for us to figure out what to do, and their wording was really vague,” Chen said.

If the changes are made, Chen says she will be forced to find alternative means of transportation.

“I [will] get dropped off somewhere near Paly and I [will] have to walk anywhere from five to 10 minutes,” Chen said. “I [will] have to wake up earlier just to be on time, and one of my parents [will] have to pick me up [from school]."

Chen hopes that Palo Alto Link will continue to be in service, but urges the city to make the improvements for a more efficient system.

“I hope that they [the City of Palo Alto] will find a way to expand the program financially, but also ... getting more cars since the waiting time can take a while,” Chen said.

by EVA CHANG

BROWSING BRYANT — Two people walk past 445 Bryant St., which is going to host a community center focused on teenagers and senior citizens.“To be able to find this one city space,

Photo: Niaz Alasti

Foothill College promotes vocational program

REPRESENTATIVES FROM Foothill College’s Apprenticeship Program hope that a recent presentation to the Palo Alto High School Junior class will bring more career options to students.

The presentation took place during a mandatory Advisory on Oct. 25. The apprenticeship pathway at Foothill allows students over the age of 18 with a high school diploma to work as apprentices in trade jobs, such as plumbers and technicians, while simultaneously taking college courses with no tuition.

Phuong Tran, the apprenticeship program coordinator at Foothill College and presenter at Paly, said she has been promoting the program to Bay Area high schools for around 10 years.

“This was the first time they [Paly] invited us to promote apprenticeship programs,” Tran said. “Apprenticeship has only really been known for the last five or six years, even though it has been around for ages.”

However, college counselor Sandra Cernobori said that in the past few years, more students have expressed interest in vocational programs, encouraging Paly to be more proactive to allow students to learn about alternate post-high school options.

“I feel like at this school, where there's such a four-year college-going culture, a lot of the Advisory lessons lean more that

way,” Cernobori said. “About 78% [of students] go directly to a four-year college and then another 12% to community college.”

Tran agrees that this emphasis on a four-year college is prevalent in more affluent areas like Palo Alto.

“People don't promote apprenticeship programs and don't promote students to go into the trade because it is considered as a second class, blue collar occupation,” Tran said.

Tran said that apprenticeship is considered a secondary choice and a working occupation that does not lead to a lot of income, but that isn’t always true.

According to Tran, wages range from $27 to $39 per hour when starting as an apprentice. But there are more than just financial benefits.

“They [apprentices] will be making money beyond the minimum wage, plus they also receive health benefits and 401K [savings] when they retire if they stay in the program long enough,” Tran said.

Through promoting these benefits, Tran is working toward changing the negative narrative with apprenticeship programs.

“We want to let students know that it is equally the same thing as going to college … to let them know, ‘this could be an option if you don’t want to have debt and to make a good living,’” Tran said.

by CHLOE HUANG

Mitchell Park Library celebrates 10th anniversary

MITCHELL PARK LIBRARY and Community Center on Middlefield Road celebrated its 10th anniversary on Nov. 16 with speeches, architectural tours and performances.

The library, originally built in 1958, was opened after remodels in 2014 to include a bigger space for teens and children.

Additionally, the building includes sustainable technology and infrastructure, which was a priority when designing the remodeled library.

“We know that sustainability is a big priority here in the city [Palo Alto],” said Ruth Ann Garcia, Mitchell Park Library services manager. “So it is just kind of a nice marquee building here in town that shows what is possible with sustainable technology.”

According to Garcia, as the busiest library branch in the city, Mitchell park has the highest daily visitor count, circulation of books checked out and daily events. The materials and services the library has provided in the past 10 years remain essential to the community.

“It's all free,” Garcia said. “You don't even have to have a library card to be here or use any of those things or attend events. We provide a really great service, ultimately, to the community … We have people in here from opening to close. We've got a lot of unhoused folks using the library, families, kids after school. It is a space for anyone to come.”

Librarian Elise Bernal said she believes that the library is an important part of the community for teenagers specifically because it gives them a place to relax and connect with others.

“I know the area here can be really stressful and academic, so it’s cool to have a space where they can come and have a chill way to meet friends, do service hours and build their own community,” Bernal said.

Bernal added that she enjoys the library because of the community that it created for her.

" My favorite part [of the library] is the connection to the people in the community because you feel like you're part of it," Bernal said.

by KENSIE PAO

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES — A volunteer passes out a pamphlet at the library's 10th anniversary celebration. Mountain View resident Mike Pali said that he spends a lot of time at the library with his family. "It's nice to have a place to bring the kids, especially for story time on Saturdays," Pali said. "I think the story time is really well done." Photo: Kensie Pao

POST-ELECTION PERSPECTIVES

PALY STUDENTS REACT TO ELECTION RESULTS

ON NOV. 6, STUDENTS walked onto campus knowing the results of the historical 2024 presidential election. Conversations that day concentrated on what another four years of Trump as president means for the United States. While some celebrated his victory, the majority of students were disappointed by Harris’ loss. Verde reported on students’ opinions on the election, asking them “What do the results of this election mean for you and your loved ones?” v

Alana Chun, sophomore

“I am very disappointed. I don’t really understand how he [Trump] could have won. He’s a convicted felon. … I’m concerned because he has control of the House, the Senate, presidency and Supreme Court. I’m worried about the new laws they’re going to be making and taking away the rights of not only girls, but just everyone in general.”

Photo: Kensie Pao

Tag Draper, junior “I think it’s weird that America trusts a felon more than a woman — that says a lot. I don’t think I could have a future here anymore. His [Trump’s] economic plan, everyone talks about how good it was, but if you look at it, it reduces the GDP by so much because he’s eliminating immi grants, and that does not help the coun try in any way. The economy’s kind of screwed, even other people’s rights. I have a mom, I have a stepmom. What about them? My friends are women. [I] shouldn’t have to live in a coun try where I have to fear [for] my friends and family’s rights all time.”

Juliana Sandoval, senior

“It’s really hard to process because me and my mom are both immigrants. We’ve only been in the country for five years, and it’s really hard to come to terms with [the fact that] the man who made it hard for our visa to get approved is back in office. It’s gonna be a really hard adjustment … I woke up this morning, I searched up the results [and] I was about to crash out. I’m just so upset.”

Photo: Cate Graney

Arabella Guinle, junior

“I’d say I’m very upset with how the election turned out. The last time when Trump was running, I didn’t really understand it, but it’s really scary, especially for people who are immigrating and people who are transgender and women. It’s very scary to live a life not knowing what your future is gonna be like. But Trump does a lot of talking. He doesn’t do a lot of the stuff that he says he’ll do, so it’s scary to be on the edge of your seat and not really know if you’re gonna have to go back to the country that you came

"Republican" Don’t Say The Word

IMPACTS OF OUR POLARIZED BAY AREA BUBBLE

IHAVE A VIVID MEMORY of the third grade, when one of my classmates broke down in tears after she found out her parents voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election against Hillary Clinton. She was the only one in my class who we knew had Republican parents. On the playground, some kids were gossiping about how her parents had voted for Trump, while others were comforting her, telling her that it was going to be okay. I remember one of my friends telling me “her parents are Republican,” like “Republican” was some kind of bad word.

I look back on this moment in shock. How could a class of 20 third graders understand the politics of that election? How could 8-year-olds understand the impact Trump would have on their lives? How did they all understand Clinton was the candidate to vote for?

The answer: our Bay Area liberal bubble. If someone in this area were to tell you they were Republican, specifically that they voted for Trump, chances are people would do a double take.

There’s no doubt that the nine counties of the

Bay Area are solidly blue. Statistically, presidential candidate Kamala Harris had overwhelming support in the election this year from the Bay Area. In San Francisco county, 81% of voters voted for Harris and only 15% voted for Trump. Solano county had the lowest Democratic turnout, with 60% still voting for Harris and 37% for Trump, according to the New York Times.

Olivia Chiang is a freshman at Stanford University and founder of Let’s Talk Unite, a non-partisan, non-profit aimed at reducing political polarization in the Bay Area. Chiang said one reason polarization in our area occurs is due to the low political diversity we encounter in the Bay Area.

you're a Trump supporter, I could never be your friend.’ That’s self selection, and that's a matter of having internalized biases and an inability to have conversations with people whom you disagree with.”

Charlotte Kofman, a junior at Kehillah High School and executive director of Let’s Talk Unite, said she feels that this self selection makes it harder for people to talk to others with different ideologies, which continues to contribute to the problem.

The liberal bubble we live in is a binary perspective, it feels black and white - or in this case, blue and red.

“Something that’s in our control is the people that we decide to reach out to and

“That [political homogeneity] reinforces the bubble and makes it more of an ‘us versus them’ situation,” Kofman said. “Especially because there's people surrounded by other people with the same beliefs, the people who don't have those same beliefs feel so different, especially in a place like this.

The effect of this polarization can be reflected in the treatment of the few Republicans in our area. Republicans get treated nothing short of how some far left leaning Democrats view them internally.

Max Beach, a senior at Palo Alto High School, identifies as a Republican and Trump supporter, despite the fact that he was raised in the Bay Area by liberal parents. Beach agrees that the Bay Area is a bubble, and said he felt that he was isolated from the rest of the area's beliefs because he disagreed with the commonly accepted political views.

“I think oftentimes instead of having a polite discussion, it's, ‘you're evil, you have this view, and I just can't talk to you,'” Beach said. “‘That's evil because of this and it's hurting these people, it's racist and it's homophobic.’ So this is a driving factor for polarization because people just won't talk because they view the other side as this evil monster.”

polarization divides communities, causing alienation of certain opinions and people. It disregards protecting political minorities, which has been an important aspect of founding American ideals. Because who are we if not everyone? Don’t we live in a democracy?

I also believe that this 2024 election and ever since the 2016 election when Trump entered the political picture, has contributed to political polarization on an extreme level. I feel as though moral beliefs have been tied more and more into politics, where people either ignore the bigger picture of a candidate, or only focus on a specific issue that they feel strongly about.

It’s not “us” and “them.” It’s “we,” “we the people.”

It’s this depiction of the other party in an exceedingly negative way that continues to drive the two sides apart.

Polarization, however, does not just affect the people who don’t hold the majority belief in an area, it also affects the way decisions are made and who people listen to. Polarization causes inefficient ways to solve problems, by disregarding the unpopular side, skewing a view to the more supported side in an area. This prevents people from reaching compromises that are critical for finding solutions to issues. Additionally,

For example, Trump has proven sexual assault allegations and 34 felonies convictions, according to NPR, but many are able to ignore this and for their political, economic and social reasons, and decide to vote Trump. Others choose to vote Trump based on a specific issue such as taxes or foreign policy.

I’ll admit, I grew up believing that the Republican party was “bad.” I grew up believing that if a Republican got elected, our world was going to crumble. But as I grew older, I realized this is untrue. The liberal bubble we live in is a binary perspective, it feels black and white — or in this case, blue and red. You are either Democrat or Republican. You are either good or bad. Because of this, I feel like I never got to

Trump's economic policies, specifically his China tariffs. Lastly, I've heard Trump's rhetoric on the COVID-19 virus regarding it as the “China virus,” according to the New York Times. For those reasons, I am not a Trump supporter. However, I’ve come to learn that whatever my ideology is, the person on the other side of the political spectrum is just another human. The reasons I support a specific side or candidate may not be the same reason why someone else would support the opposing side, but I’m not going to point fingers and tell them why they’re wrong in an effort to change their mind. Instead, I will simply listen.

I learned as a third grader, that whenever there is a problem, you must use teamwork to solve it. Ignoring others' opinions will only cause you more trouble. This third grade work ethic must be applied to politics and our daily lives. You must listen to the other side, even if you disagree. Painting your opponent as a red devil does no good. As students and any role that you may fulfill in life, it is always important to listen to others. I am still going to hold true to my political beliefs and you should too, but that does not make anyone else's beliefs any less important or evil. This is the way we as a community can reach compromise.

I am a South Korean, Chinese and American woman. I come from an immigrant parents on both sides of my family. I consider myself well-educated on

The advice of one of the most influential people to date, founding father and President George Washington, cautioned against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address, published in 1796. He warned that political factions could lead to division, conflict and ultimately the breaking of national unity. Taking the advice of Washington, it shouldn’t be “us” and “them.” It’s “we,” “we the people.” v

EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF WOMEN’S

RIGHTS MY BODY, YOUR CHOICE

ONE IN FOUR WOMEN

in the United States are expected to have an abortion in their lifetime, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

However, this personal and often medically necessary decision has become increasingly politicized after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022. Following this reversal, the constitutional right to abortion was revoked, banning abortion in several states.

The decision to reverse Roe v. Wade was passed under Supreme Court judges who were appointed by current president-elect Donald Trump. After the 2024 presidential election results, many women are left concerned about the future of their reproductive rights.

“Some young women are coming in looking at permanent sterilization because they think they may not be able to get birth control in the future,” said Janna Doherty, maternal child health medical director at Kaiser Permanente San Jose.

According to retired obstetrician-gynecologist Heidi Olander, who worked at Kaiser Permanente for 33 years, the potential for stricter national abortion laws under Trump’s administration is growing.

“He [Trump] may not have the focus level to care about the stuff,” Olander said. “But his vice president, JD Vance, has been pretty vocal about wanting to have a national abortion ban. Even though it didn’t happen in his first term, I’m more worried that it could happen in this term.”

Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint, is contributing to fears of the future. According to Guttmacher, the project has goals that include defunding organizations that provide reproductive care, denying abortion in emergency situations, implementing laws that ban traveling to receive an abortion and reinstating laws to

prevent abortion counseling.

“Even though Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025, it seems very clear that it was written by people who worked for him who probably are going to work for him again,” Olander said.

Olander said that Project 2025 aims to limit abortions in any possible way.

“One is to work through the FDA to make … mifepristone … unavailable and that’s the most efficient abortifacient drug,” Olander said.

Since two-thirds of abortions in the U.S. are medication-based, banning this drug would significantly restrict reproductive freedoms.

Doherty said this issue is not just around reproductive freedom, but also the messages sent to young men.

“I don’t think that men can ever truly understand the responsibility that all women feel in terms of their sexuality,” Doherty said. “I feel like everyone knows somebody who has been assaulted or raped and I would want young men to know these are your mothers, your sisters, your aunties, your friends.”

“ I feel like everyone knows somebody who has been assaulted or raped.”

Doherty said that although surgical abortion will remain available in California, these rights won’t be the same for women in other states.

— JANNA DOHERTY, Maternal Child Health Medical Director at Kaiser Permanente San Jose

“It’s almost like there’s a geographic divide between who gets health care and that to me is really sad and tragic,” Doherty said. “Someone in a rural or poor community, which are also often women of color, may not have the means to do that [travel out of state for abortions] and so you’ve already set up, not just a geographical divide, but an economic divide.”

Additionally, Olander said that access to professional reproductive care may be restricted in the future.

“They’ll also go back to some of the laws that make it illegal for clinics that get money from the federal government to even mention abortion as an option,” Olander said. “If I were counseling a woman in an office that received federal dollars, which most do, ... I wouldn’t be able to talk to her about abortion as an option.”

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the maternal mortality rate rose 11% nationally, according to the Gender Equity Policy Institute. The future of access to professional reproductive healthcare particularly concerns Olander, whose colleagues have differing views on abortion.

“Twice in my career, I’ve had a woman who was losing a pregnancy,” Olander said. “Both times, I needed to take them to the operating room and do … a removal of the pregnancy to save someone’s life. There was an anesthesiologist in our practice who was a very staunch Catholic, anti-abortion doctor, and he refused to provide anesthesia while there was still a heartbeat … The thought that I could lose a patient because of someone else’s beliefs about abortion and watch them die in front of me was pretty terrifying.”

Olander emphasizes the need for society to understand the impacts of unwanted pregnancies.

“I feel like having children is the most consequential thing that’ll almost ever happen to a woman,” Olander said. “I don’t think anybody can choose that other than her.” v

How do the election results make you feel about the future of reproductive rights?

Kennedy Do Paly RISE club president

“As RISE [Responsive Inclusive Safe Environment] president and an advocate for women’s rights, I am particularly concerned about what the future holds for girls and women who, for whatever valid reason, choose to terminate their pregnancy — whether it be related to emergency, medical, financial, emotional, life circumstances or any other reasons. A woman’s right to choose is a private matter between her and her doctor, and the government should not interfere.” Photo: Maya Rajbhandari

Katya Villalobos

Paly History teacher

“People are working really hard to make sure that those [abortion] rights are protected ...This is a long, hard battle, but a possible battle ... But, my worry was more of the messaging I heard [during the election], specifically around this very anti woman type of decision making. I kept hearing, ‘women should do this,’ or ‘women should not do this.’ I was like, wait a second, I thought I had the right to make those decisions on my own.” Photo: Kensie Pao

Kathleen Wang

Paly junior

“By taking away this [abortion] right, we’re setting a precedent that America doesn’t believe that these basic human rights and the right to control your own body isn’t important ... and Trump has shown that he’s incredibly misogynistic. When Trump says that he’s going to leave abortion rights up to the states I think he’s ignoring the right of every individual woman in the US to make decisions about their own body. I don’t want the fate of my body, my well being, to be placed in the hands of someone who, well, isn’t me, or maybe doesn’t even know me.” Photo: Kensie Pao

Paly English teacher

“I think all students should inform themselves of the data and consequences of losing their right to choose. It will be hardest for women in poverty. These draconian measures always hurt the poor most deeply.” Photo: Maya Rajbhandari

Cynthia Molina Paly senior

“I think we are lucky to live in a state where we are mainly pro-choice, and find it alarming to know that other women don’t have that privilege. But I’m worried about the future of reproductive rights and witnessing all the progress women have made in the past decades seem like it was for nothing.”

Photo: Maya Rajbhandari

Lucy Filppu

Piecing TogeTher

ProPosTions

DEBRIEFING 2024 CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS

THERE WERE A TOTAL of eight propositions on the ballot in California for the 2024 elections. Propositions are measures that have the ability to veto or create laws if passed by more than 50% of California’s electorate. They can appear on the ballot in two ways. If enough people sign a petition, then a proposition can be added to the ballot.

Alternatively, the California State Legislature can place propositions on the ballot. If a law passes that would require amending the California constitution, it may need the approval of the people.

Proposition 6

Prop 6 didn’t pass, receiving only 46.6% of the vote as of Nov. 19, accord ing to the Associated Press.

Prop 6 would have eliminated a pro vision in California’s constitution allow ing involuntary servitude as punishment for prisoners.

The provision’s removal was proposed because it is seen as a continuation of slavery.

Esteban Nunez, a leading consultant for the Prop 6 campaign, said he believes Prop 6 would not only remove the problematic aspects of involuntary servitude in our prison system but also prevent repeat offenses.

“Forced labor just creates this very difficult system that doesn’t allow folks the opportunities to wholeheartedly be able to rehabilitate themselves,” Nunez said.

Nunez said he believes that the biggest issue with involun tary servitude in prison is the lack of flexibility offered with

According to the Associated Press, Props 3, 4, 35 and 36 passed while Props 5, 6, 32 and 33.

Ballot propositions, however, are often confusing for voters to understand.

According to an Oct. 30 article from CalMatters, “every election, there are complaints that the proposition titles are too slanted or just too confusing.”

This article will go in depth about props 4, 6, 32 and 36 to clarify their goals and impact. v

the hours and

“If you have a work assignment that ... conflicts with … college hours or hours that the educational facility is open, your work assignment takes precedence, even if you get approval from your supervisor,” Nunez said.

Though there was no official opposition statement for Prop 6, it did have criticisms, which Esteban said

“Some of the arguments that they made was that this would lead to minimum wage in prison, which is completely inaccurate,” Nunez said. “I think people also thought that

Prop 6 would mean nobody’s going to work in prison, which is just completely, again, I think, inaccurate, and comes from a lack of experience.”

As it was added on the ballot in late June, his team found it difficult to gain enough momentum to pass the proposition.

Esteban said he believes it didn’t pass due to a lack of understanding of what the proposition would do.

“We didn’t have ‘slavery’ in our ballot title summary,” Nunez said. “So voters, when they read the ballot summary, there was no connection to slavery for voters.”

Five other states have passed similar propositions, including Nevada during these elections.

Nunez is disappointed that voters didn’t approve Prop 6.

“For me, it’s disappointing, because California, we pride ourselves on our values and our morals,” Nunez said. “And for me, it’s like, how can you say that when a form of racism lives and breathes in the document that is supposed to embody our principles, that being the state constitution?”

Proposition 4

Prop 4, which was passed by a 59.6% majority as of Nov. 19, authorizes bonds for water, wildfire and land protection mea sures, according to the Associated Press.

The proposition was placed on the ballot by the state legislature.

Palo Alto High School science teacher Nicole Loomis said she supports the goals of Prop 4.

“I tend to vote for ballot measures that fund education and the environment, like clean water and preventing wildfires,” Loomis said.

The opposition to the proposition is focused on the budget.

By passing this measure, California agrees to incur $10 billion, which will be paid in

installments of around $400 million per year over the next 40

“It is a significant amount of money, and California is in a significant amount of debt, so it’s a fair argument on the other side, but we are kind of in a critical situation with the wildfires right now,” Loomis said.

Now that the measure has been passed, 3.8 billion of the 10 billion bond will be used to improve water quality across the state.

Nearly $2 billion will be spent on projects that aim to lessen the effects of wildfires and extreme heat.

Smaller sums from the bond have been allocated for clean energy projects, agriculture and natural land protection.

32

Prop 32 was vetoed, with a close margin of 50.8% to 49.2%, as of Nov. 19. If passed, Prop 32 would have immediately raised the minimum wage to $17 per hour for businesses with 26 or more employees, with an increase to $18 per hour at the start of 2025. Businesses with under 25 employees would pay $18 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Supporters believe that a higher minimum wage would help people afford basic necessities in an expensive state.

“I honestly think it [a low minimum wage] is shameful,” Paly senior Caroline Groden said. “California has one of the highest costs of living, especially in Palo Alto and the Bay Area, in the entire United States, and $18 an

hour is just not enough money to live on.”

A study conducted by the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California, Berkeley, found that substantial and gradual pay increases had “no significant effects” on unemployment.

However, opponents of the proposition believe that raising the minimum wage will hurt businesses that are already struggling to recover from the pandem-

They point to a survey conducted by West Hollywood officials, where 42% of businesses reported that they laid off or cut hours for their staff following a wage increase in the city.

Proposition 36

Prop 36 passed with an overwhelming majority of 68.5%, as of Nov. 19. This means that the offense for crimes such as certain theft and drug offenses will be raised from misdemeanors to felonies.

Currently, non-repeat offenders found guilty of theft of under $950 receive a misdemeanor. The existing law is in place because of Propo sition 47, which was passed in 2014, with a 59.61% majority. It aimed to end or lower jail time for many non-violent crimes. Instead, it is believed to have encouraged the shoplifting that has run rampant in cities across California since people can now commit petty theft without the threat of harsh penalties.

Paly junior Will Stover supports the bill, as he said he believes it will crack down on crime in California.

“It significantly decreases the incentive for these looters and shoplifters to continue looting and cause all these issues in our city, especially in San Francisco,” Stover said. “So I think that this was definitely a necessary measure that California readily adopted.”

A concern is that Proposition 36 will only punish people for minor crimes, leading to higher costs and overcrowding for California’s prison and justice system.

The Official Voter Information Guide estimates the fiscal impact to range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars for the state’s criminal justice system to hold the prisoners.

Proposition

FLEA MARKET FAREWELL

SAN JOSE MARKET PREPARES FOR CLOSURE

Text by NATHALIA ARIAS and JARON LEUNG Photos by KENSIE PAO

WALKING ALONG the canopied entrance into San Jose’s Flea Market, located at 1590 Berryessa Road, on a lively Sunday is an experience in and of itself. Live music plays, fruit prices are shared and the shuffle of all the people wandering from booth to booth can be heard.

The San Jose Flea Berryessa Market is where many Bay Area locals go to shop. From fresh produce to skin care to second hand items, the flea market has something for everyone.

While many locals hold the flea market dear in their hearts, the memories made there are tainted by the looming threat of redevelopment.

The market’s current location is soon to become a transit-oriented development near the Bay Area Rapid Transit train station with plans to have 3,500 homes and 3.4 million square feet of mixed space, according to the San Jose Spotlight. This threatens the livelihood of many vendors.

The San Jose Flea Market first opened in 1960 and now takes up 65 acres filled with vendor stands and buildings of its own. Like a small town, rows of stalls are labeled with street names. According to the San Jose Berryessa Flea

Market economic and cultural impact analysis report, “the Berryessa Flea Market represents the largest, densest cluster of small and microbusinesses in the South Bay.”

With a grid-like map, vendors pay per lot space — $35 to $65 on Saturdays, $40 to $80 on Sundays, and free on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — to sell their new and used items like clothing, furniture and toys, as well as food.

Nancy Torres’ stall sells packaged spices and herbal remedies. She is one of many vendors whose families have been at the flea market for generations.

“I pretty much grew up here since I was nine,” Torres said.

relocate themselves, with knowledge of the incoming closure, but can’t seem to find an equivalent alternative.

“This was our biggest place where we got most of our income from. It [moving to another market] is not the same. It’s completely different,” Torres said. “[Other markets are] a little bit more expensive. Some of them are cheaper, but it’s not as good as we have been here.”

Many vendors like Torres and her family are waiting to see if they receive any more information from the San Jose Flea Market owners.

“We had five stands, and now we only have one.”

— Nancy Torres, San Jose Flea Market vendor

Torres has seen a negative impact on her sales since the arrival of surrounding establishments like the BART Station and apartment complexes.

“Recently, with all the things that they [the city of San Jose] want to do, our sales went down a lot,” Torres said. “We [her and her family] had five stands, and now we only have one.”

Many vendors have been looking to

“For now, we’re just kind of waiting to see if they have a plan for us, or if they have another location that we can move to,” Torres said.

Torres isn’t the only vendor anxious about the future. Giobani Garcia works as a produce vendor, helping run his father’s business at the flea market. Garcia’s family has been at the same stand for about 25 years. For generations, he and his family have run the produce stand and currently, he and his siblings are taking over the business.

After being notified about the po-

tential closing, Garcia started to worry about his father’s income.

“It is tragic news to him, because he’s always been here his whole life,” Garcia said. “We [me and my siblings] are already old enough to get other jobs … but he has been here his whole life.”

According to a San Jose Berryessa Flea Market economic and cultural impact analysis report, “Vendors have reported buying a house and sending their kids to college indicating that they were able to transfer wealth from La Pulga [Flea Market] businesses to the next generation and offer them greater economic opportunities.”

many vendors and shoppers are worried about what will happen to this focal point of the community.

A flea market employee, who asked not to be named and has worked at the Flea Market since March 27, 1999, has also seen the impact that the talk of the closure has had on the vendors and shoppers.

“ It has been their whole life. It’s harder for them to accept the fact that things are just going to change.”

— San Jose Flea Market worker

It also states that “Nearly all the vendors represent lower-income communities of color, half of the vendors work full-time at the Market and nearly three-quarters rely on the Berryessa Flea Market as their primary source of income.”

San Jose District 4 Council member David Cohen has given an earliest possible closing date of Jan. 1, 2026. Even though this date is more than a year out,

“Those few vendors that have been here for so long are the ones that got to be affected the most because this has been basically their main source of income,” the employee said. “There’s a few of them that have been here even longer than me … it has been their whole life. It’s harder for them to accept the fact that things are just gonna change.”

The employee is not confident that the city and the flea market owners will find as prime a location as the current one.

“Where else in San Jose you’re gonna find an open space that is as big as this?” The employee said. “This [the flea market

land] is one of the last private properties that is still large enough to create a flea market. I don’t think the actual family that owns the flea market is actively looking for something [another space].”

Locals feel the Flea Market represents the community very well. Jorge Cruz, a regular at the flea market since he was a kid, feels that it is a place he can go that reflects his culture.

“It’s very how do you say, mi gente [my people]; a lot of Hispanic community,” Cruz said. v

MEANINGFUL MARKET (LEFT) — A seller looks off into the distance at the San Jose Flea Market. “It (the announcement of the closure] really had a big impact on us,” vendor Nancy Torres said.

TASTE OF TOGETHERNESS (MIDDLE)

— A vendor at the San Jose Flea Market spoons a fruit and sauce into a cup for a customer. “It’s a nice community. You just go to get along with people,” vendor Giobani Garcia said.

ENDEARING EXCHANGE (RIGHT) —

Two customers buy clothes from a seller at the San Jose Flea Market. “It’s always good to see them [members of the communityl just around [at the flea market],” market-goer Jorge Cruz said.

PHONES VS.

FOCUSING

BILL

BRINGS SCHOOL

DEVICE RESTRICTIONS

FOR AYDIN KONUK, a Palo Alto High School junior, a world without his phone is one unimaginable.

“Clash Royale, TikTok, Discord … I use it [my phone] for everything,” Konuk said. “I don’t even wanna think about the possibility of not having a phone.”

In California, that world may be closer to reality than one might think — at least in a classroom setting.

well-being of the pupil or when a smartphone is needed for the individual’s personal education program.

Opinions on the possible coming restrictions differ. Paly art teacher Susan La Fetra said she thinks the devices have a place in the classroom.

“ I don’t even want to think about the possibility of not having a phone.”

—AYDIN KONUK, Palo Alto High School

In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Phone-Free Schools Act. The bill requires the governing body of a school district, a county education office or a charter school to, by July 1, 2026, create a policy limiting smartphone usage in a school setting. The new law builds on 2021’s AB 272 bill, which specifies school districts have the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours.

The Phone-Free School Act cites evidence that “unrestricted use of smartphones by pupils at elementary and secondary schools … lowers pupil performance … promotes cyberbullying, and contributes to … teenage anxiety, depression and suicide” as reasoning in support of the bill’s incoming implementation. In addition, the bill points to previous cell phone restriction successes in France and Spain as further proof of the policy’s validity.

There are circumstances where exceptions can be made for certain students in regards to the cell phone limits — in the case of an emergency when medical professionals deem it necessary for the health or

“We use phones for research sometimes in the classroom,” La Fetra said. “In my Art Spectrum class, we use them for references. It can be a really handy tool.”

Despite the benefits, La Fetra emphasizes that unrestricted cell phone access for students isn’t viable either.

“One of the biggest problems I have is kids playing games in class,” La Fetra said. “They seem to be addicted to these online games, playing them while they’re supposed to be working.”

Instead of outright restricting or banning cell phone access, La Fetra wonders if cell phone holders provide a viable solution.

use if I’m not even using it?”

Hernandez also worries that cell phone restrictions would be a safety concern.

“What if you need to have an emergency call to your parents?” Hernandez said.

In lieu of restrictions or a ban, Hernandez suggested a simpler solution.

“There could be a warning system where you get two strikes and after that your phone gets taken away,” Hernandez said.

Michael Rich, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and practitioner of adolescent medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, is a critic of all prospective bans — not just phones due to its infringment on students rights.

“I really dislike the idea of a ban of any kind,” Rich said.

But while Rich vehemently opposes banning the device, he has less qualms about restrictions.

He sees banning cell phones as a conflict between two separate categories, didactic — or “intended to teach” — and social-emotional learning.

“What if you need to have an emergency call to your parents?”

—YOBANI HERNANDEZ, Palo Alto High School junior

“It would be great if the district decided to fund cell phone holders for everybody, rather than having us take that money out of our allotment for each class,” La Fetra said.

Paly junior Yobani Hernandez echoes La Fetra’s sentiment that outright cell phone banning wouldn’t be right, stressing that doing so would come with alarming implications for student rights going forward.

“It’s a breach of privacy,” Hernandez said. “How are you going to restrict phone

“In terms of didactic learning, [phones] are, in almost every case, a distraction from [learning],” Rich said. “There are very few really effective ways, at least at this point, to use these tools [phones] as part of the educational process.” v

PHONES AWAY — Paly math teacher Misha Stempel poses in front of her classroom’s phone holder. “Having phones on person is very distracting for a lot of students” Paly science teacher Nicole Loomis said. Photo: Ethan Zhang

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

CULTURAL CLUB PARTICIPATION INCREASES

DIVERSITY AMONG Palo Alto High School’s student body is beginning to even out, according to a cumulative enrollment graph on race and ethnicity created by Education Data Services.

This has resulted in the creation of cultural clubs as a way to build community within the school.

A student diversity chart created by U.S. News & World Report between 2021 and 2023 indicates that 64.8% of Paly’s

enrollment consisted of students from minority backgrounds, or students who are not white.

Information submitted to the California Department of Education for the 2023-24 school year indicates that that there was a slight increase to 65.1%.

During the 202324 school year, Paly offered six cultural clubs for students to attend.

“Identifying indvidual cultures and giving each culture a voice is ... something that’s really important, especially on a campus as diverse as Paly.”

Culture Club, Beyond Bollywood, Middle Eastern and South Asian Student Association, Jewish Student Union, Latino Unidos and Black Student Union.

This increase in cultural clubs has given the different cultures at Paly more representation by increasing club participation.

This year Paly increased its numbers from six to ten ethnic and cultural clubs: Cultural Connections Club, Asian History and Geopolitical Club, Chinese Club, Singaporean Students’ Society, Japanese

— MOTOKO IWATA, co-president of Japanese Culture Club

Senior Henry Leins, co-president of the Singaporean Students’ Society, says he believes that cultural clubs are a fun way to bring people of the same cultural backgrounds together.

“It [Singapore] is a really small country, so finding … other people with the

same heritage in the U.S. was interesting,” Leins said. “We [the presidents] wanted to share that [heritage] as a club, and just bring people together.”

Motoko Iwata, junior and co-president of Japanese Culture Club, said that while there is a lot of diversity at Paly, minority cultures are still often overlooked.

“Identifying individual cultures and giving each culture a voice is … something that’s really important, especially on a campus as diverse as Paly,” Iwata said. “For example, Paly has a really vast Asian population, but that Asian population includes Indian people, Chinese people, Japanese people, Korean people, and sometimes they [the ethnic groups] are more or less grouped together.”

In the Singaporean Students’ Society’s first meeting, Leins said that he and his co-president asked students to fill out a Google form sharing their ideas for future club activities and events.

“I thought something … that would be fun is watching “Crazy Rich Asians,” Leins said. “We’ve brought in a bunch of satay, which are chicken skewers from a local Singaporean restaurant. We shared that … and I’m thinking throughout the year we’re going to have guest speakers and … celebrations of holidays and traditions.”

not they are culturally Singaporean.

“It [the club] is not just for Singaporean students, but we kind of just wanted to share that culture ... especially the food,” Leins said.

For some students, cultural clubs are a place to find support and solidarity amid times of struggle.

dents do not participate in cultural clubs.

Ami Yamaguchi, junior and co-president of Japanese Culture Club, encourages people to expand their cultural bubbles by attending cultural club meetings.

“ It [the club] is not just for Singaporean students, ... but we kind of just wanted to share that culture.”

Keerthi Raj, a junior and the co-president of MESA, said she believes that some cultural clubs hosted this year stem from current global events.

“Cultural clubs offer the opportunity to engage with different cultures, ... and ... building those connections across campus is really important in such a dividing time.”

— MOTOKO IWATA, co-president of Japanese Culture Club

— HENRY LEINS, co-president of Singaporean Student Society

Leins said he believes that bringing in cultural foods is a good way to incorporate and engage students into the culture and to promote community building whether or

“Because there’s so much in the current day, like war and political instability … a lot of people who support these regions have created clubs to support one another,” Raj said.

Tali Lehrer, co-president of JSU, echoes the sentiment.

“The war in Israel and anti-semitism across the world, specifically in the United States, has made it [the JSU] … an even more welcoming and supportive space, especially for Jewish students who need that right now and maybe don’t find that around California,” Lehrer said.

Despite this, the majority of Paly stu-

“I would say that they [cultural clubs] are not a waste of time because … when I go to other cultural clubs, they look at things completely different than how my culture would look at it, so I think it’s interesting to learn about that.”

Through this, Iwata said she believes that these clubs can build understanding among students with different opinions.

“Paly has a huge problem of people clustering [in cliques], and there’s also a big problem with polarization in the current world … which stems from a lack of understanding,” Iwata said. “Cultural clubs in general offer the opportunity to engage with different cultures, and I think building those connections across campus is really important in such a dividing time.” v

CONNECTIONS ACROSS CULTURES

—

In the Singaporean Students’ Society’s third meeting, vice president Heather Song shares information about Singapore. “The club is open to anyone interested in Singaporean culture,” Song said. “It’s great to see so many curious people ... ask question after question. I like that they get to learn so much more about Singapore because I think it’s such an interesting country that many people know nothing about.” Photo: Lara Saslow

Fresh Fades

THE STUDENT BARBERS SHAPING PALO ALTO’S STYLE

RAP MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY

from a speaker nearby in Hanu Thakur’s backyard as he picks up a pair of scissors and a comb. As he cuts, he talks and jokes freely with the client, the conversation flowing from European soccer to college applications, as he meticulously works through his client’s hair, trimming little by little.

Thakur, a senior at Palo Alto Middle College, has been gaining popularity in the Palo Alto community as a student barber, giving $10 haircuts and posting them on his Instagram account, @10_fades.

Thakur said that he started cutting hair after he became tired of getting bad haircuts from his mom’s barber.

“I used to have to go to my mom’s barber,” Thakur said.

“They kept on messing me up, and eventually I was like, ‘Alright, surely I could do better than what they’re doing.’”

who worked on shows like “All American” and “13 Reasons Why” and cut hair for famous athletes and actors.

“I saw him doing that, and I thought it was cool,” Fakatou said. “My dad bought a pair of clippers because he always saw me watching YouTube videos, and he asked if I wanted to cut his hair. … I had two younger brothers, and I also started cutting their hair.”

Fakatou pursued his passion in cutting hair alongside his new career in real estate.

“I want real estate to be my main thing, but I’m planning to keep cutting hair on the side,” Fakatou said. “I’ve got some time in my schedule for it.”

Nair said he appreciates Thakur’s relentless attention to detail, in addition to his low prices.

“I can always rely on him to spend an hour and a half cutting my hair, making it perfect,” Nair said. “He’s the type of guy that focuses on the details, and I appreciate that about him.”

“He’s the type of guy that focuses on the details, and I appreciate that about him.”

Both Thakur and Fakatou have used social media to grow their businesses and build and maintain relationships with their clients. Fakatou uses his Instagram account, @fadezbyjoreli, to advertise to potential customers.

— ALAAP NAIR, UC Berkeley student

Thakur and Fakatou both said that they enjoy bonding with their clients. Thakur said that he enjoys cutting hair because it allows him to relax and talk with people in a comfortable environment.

“It’s a way for me to connect with people.”

— HANU THAKUR, Palo Alto Middle College student

Thakur learned to cut hair by watching YouTube videos and practicing on himself and his friends.

“I tried practicing on myself a couple times,” Thakur said. “Then I asked my friends. … So then they were like ‘yo, if you want, you can just practice on me.’”

Like Thakur, Jordan Fakatou, a 2022 graduate of Palo Alto High School, started cutting hair by watching YouTube videos in middle school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was inspired by his uncle, a barber,

“It’s a way for me to connect with people,” Thakur said. “When I’m cutting their hair and they’re sitting there we’re getting something done. So we’re not really focused on whether our conversation is awkward ... We both talk super freely, and I get great conversations out of my friends and other clients.”

Fakatou echoes Thakur’s emphasis on maintaining good relationships with his clients.

“I really value everyone I cut for,” Fakatou said. “It can be tough if your barber just disappears.”

Alaap Nair, Thakur’s cousin, a 2024 Paly graduate and a student at the University of California, Berkeley, still gets haircuts from Thakur despite the long drive.

“Social media is a huge tool, and it’s free,” Fakatou said. “I should’ve kept posting regularly because there are people out there who will come to you, even if you’re just starting out.”

When reflecting on his journey, Fakatou shared advice for aspiring barbers.

“If I could go back, I’d say that when one of my videos went viral, I should’ve kept that momentum going,” Fakatou said. “That was a missed opportunity.”

Thakur said that despite the fact he is able to profit from cutting hair, he isn’t interested in expanding his business to compete with other barbers in the area.

“I do this as a hobby,” Thakur said. “I find it relaxing — it’s like art to me. And I really like cutting hair … I don’t see myself raising prices anytime soon, because I don’t do this for the money, I’m just doing it because I like to do it … It’s really satisfying, it’s relaxing, but it’s also about getting connected with my clients.” v

BACKYARD FADES — Hanu Thakur carefully cuts the hair of his client, Alaap Nair, a UC Berkeley student and 2024 Paly graduate. “I’m just doing it because I like to do it,” Thakur said. “I love cutting hair. ... It’s really satisfying and relaxing.”

Photo: Lara Saslow

Text by LILIA KUZMICHEVA and KENSIE PAO

JUSTIN LEE AND HIS HONEY BEES

BEES SWARM AROUND Justin Lee as he approaches their hive. Unfazed, he carefully pulls out a sheet of honeycomb with a bright yellow orange tint and complex hexagons. In a white bee suit that covers him from head to toe, Justin Lee marvels at the work of his buzzing companions, and begins collecting honey.

Palo Alto High School senior Justin Lee started his beekeeping journey in 2022, between his freshman and sophomore years, when his friend was moving away to England and needed someone to take over their hive.

Due to the large amount of honey he was producing, he started a honey business called Lo La Honey through which he was able to further his passion for beekeeping.

“You get to collect honey, and just being outside, doing an activity, it’s a lot of fun,” Justin Lee said.

This interesting hobby sparked his interest during the pandemic, due to the large amount of free time.

“Coming out of COVID, I wasn’t doing much with my time and so I took up

beekeeping to spend it,” Justin Lee said.

Since then, Justin Lee grew to love beekeeping. Through online learning, mentorships and family help, he now sustains a bee hive in his backyard.

“There’s like big batches of bees and trees [at the bee farm] and he [Justin Lee] goes there, grabs them, pulls them down and puts them in a bag and then a box, and then transfers them to our hive,” His brother Nathan Lee said.

Paly junior Nathan Lee, has been by his side from the beginning of this niche hobby, offering help when needed.

“A challenge was getting over my fear of being stung,” Justin Lee said. “ But I learned to overcome it just by spending time outside with the bees.”

The main thing they need to look out for (apart from being stung) is the queen bee, which the beehive needs to survive as she is the only one who can control the population by reproducing.

“You get to collect honey, and just be outside, doing an activity, it’s a lot of fun.”

— JUSTIN LEE, Palo Alto High School senior

“It was all new to us,” Nathan Lee said. “At first, it was kind of crazy, and I think that he [Justin Lee] was pretty excited just to try something new.”

Sustaining a hive and collecting honey however was not the hardest part for Justin Lee at the beginning. Instead, it was the bees themselves.

Each of the beehives follow a specific structure, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the bees.

“The setup is usually on the ground,” Justin Lee said. “You have two bigger boxes, and that’s where the queen lays all the eggs. That’s where the bees kind of have their larvae, and like new bees will be formed.”

On top of the box with the queen bee and larvae, Justin Lee puts the bees’ honey supers — a box used to collect honey.

By Justin Lee’s sophomore year in 2022, he had already grown his initial bee

hive into two. When he started producing more and more honey, Lee saw a business opportunity.

“I was able to produce around 30 or 40 pounds of honey per harvest. And then I kind of just turned into business because I just had too much honey,” Justin Lee said. “I mean, you can only eat so much [hon ey].”

His business called Lo La Honey, where he sells batches of honey, honeycomb and other things made of wax, for example lipbalm and candles, which you can learn more about on Instagram @lolahoneyco. From all of these products he is able to make a respectable profit.

“He makes about $1500 every har vest,” Nathan Lee said. “So, like, last year, he made around $10,000.”

Despite the large amount of money, he makes sure to donate all of it towards a good cause.

“All of the proceeds go towards a group called the Primrose Pollinator Group, and basically I use the money I get to help fund some of the projects I do, like helping re store some patches of land with native plant mulch [at a national park],” Justin Lee said.

Although beekeeping requires con stant care and attention, Justin Lee is able to give back to the community through Lo La Honey.

“I think the main goals with Lo La Honey are to provide the community with local honey which can help with health problems such as allergies, and also to help give back to the community through something I am passionate about,” Justin Lee said.

However, he has faced some challeng

HONEY HEXAGONS — Justin Lee stands next to his bee hive, holding up a sheet of honey, surrounded by bees.

“You have two bigger boxes, and that’s where the queen lays all the eggs. That’s where the bees kind of have their larvae, and like new bees will be formed.” Photo: Kensie Pao

es with his beehives in the past, losing two in the process.

“One hive was [lost] from mites, and the other hive was from swarming,” Nathan Lee said. “Those were two really healthy hives, but then they just somehow died.”

In order to prevent this, a conistent treatment and observation routine is required.

“Someone checks on it every three weeks.” Nathan Lee said. “You just go in there to make sure nothing bad is happening. And then every winter you want to treat it before diseases and stuff [occur]. So you just want to make sure it’s all doing fine and not overfilling, because we’ve had hives that overfilled and then they [the bees] just swarmed away.”

Although difficult to face, these experiences have given Justin Lee the knowledge that translates into taking better care of the hives, to prevent the same mistakes from happening in the future. This leads him to more efficient harvests.

“He just checks up on them more often, and then he’s also running more [beehives] so he knows how to do it,” Nathan Lee said.

For the future, after Justin Lee graduates, he plans on having his brother and parents help out with the business as well as the hives.

“I think while in college, it will be a little

harder to keep and maintain them,” Justin Lee said. “ I think my brother Nathan will help me out and hopefully my parents.”

Overall, beekeeping has been a great outlet for Justin Lee during his free time, and encouraged him to embrace challenges and experiences.

“It’s been an eye opening experience,” Nathan Lee said. “Him taking the opportunity of taking the hive after a friend left was adventurous of him, and it really took him out of his comfort zone.”

GUIDING DECISIONS —

Officer Brian Connelly smiles while leaning on the lockers at Palo Alto High School on a Friday afternoon. He recently visited to talk about making better choices and resisting peer pressure. “One bad decision really leads to more bad decisions,” Connelly said.

BE THE BEAN

POLICE OFFICER CONNECTS WITH STUDENTS

ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON,

Brian Connelly, an officer at the Palo Alto Police Department, makes an unusual stop in his daily patrol. Connelly, who has been with the department since 2017, visits Palo Alto High School to speak in front of a crowd of seniors about how they can make better decisions by avoiding social pressures.

As students prepare for another boring lecture, he picks up the microphone and begins rapping.

Connelly said he began doing these talks at Paly last year in an attempt to warn students about underage drinking parties and help them make better decisions.

“One bad decision really leads to more bad decisions,” Connelly said, adding that he realized he couldn’t reach students after parties, and he needed a new environment to talk to them.

“I would go [to] these parties, and everyone [students] would just scatter,” Connelly said. “They’d freak out like ‘The cops are here,’ so that got me thinking ‘How can I talk to these students in an environment where they’re not fight-or-flight?”

Connelly reached out to Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson, whom he had previously met with, and scheduled his first talk with the senior class during the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. The talks have become a recurring event due to their success among students.

During this talk with the senior class, Connelly introduces ideas from Damon West’s book “The Coffee Bean.”

The book spreads the message that individual people have the power to change the environment around them through the metaphor of a coffee bean changing the color of hot water in a pot. After his talk, many students took his message to heart, recognizing him and calling him “be the bean” at their graduation ceremony and other school events.

“That filled me up,” Connelly said, when talking about the unexpected connection he made with the students.

“A couple weeks after the first time I talked to them last year, I went to a [Paly] football game just because I was on patrol, and I walked up the bleachers and they [last year’s seniors] started chanting ‘Be the bean’ and I got goosebumps, like I almost started crying,” Connelly said.

to look ahead rather than dwelling on past mistakes.

“I’m just giving you information,” he said. “When it happens out here, it’s too late … your bad decision has already been made.”

“There’s a reason why your windshield is so much bigger than your rear view mirror.”

— BRIAN CONNELLY, Palo Alto police officer

“[Paly] graduation was on a day off, so I stood there as all the seniors walked past me and I fist pounded every single one of them, and then a lot of them recognized me and were like ‘oh, be the bean,’” Connelly said.

Many students connected with his message, encouraging him to inspire and motivate others. Connelly wants to inspire students to focus on themselves and make more positive choices, encouraging them

He said he hopes that, by reaching them, he can inspire better thought processes.

“There’s a reason why your windshield is so much bigger than your rear view mirror,” Connelly said. “Because what’s in your rear view mirror is already behind you. You can’t fix that. You can’t change that … but your future is in front of you, where your feet are right now, where you’re facing, that’s in front of you.” v

LOOKING AHEAD — Officer Brian Connelly visits Palo Alto High School and surveys the quad. “Your future is in front of you,” he said.

PLugged in REVIEWING TOP-RANKING PODCASTS

TALK SHOWS HAVE BEEN present in airwaves for a long time. Since the ’50s, viewers across the world have tuned in night after night to television staples like “The Late Show” and “The Tonight Show,” excited to see which celebrity would be interviewed next. Hosts like Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien have amassed expansive followings with their magnetic personalities and ability to conjure conversation from seemingly thin air, propelling them into the A-list along with their celebrity interviewees.

The 21st century has seen a new version of the talk show rise — podcasting. Podcasting flips many of the typical talk show tropes upside down.

Instead of live shows with large stages and hundreds of attendees, podcasts are

often pre-recorded in small rooms with a limited — or, in most cases, nonexistent — in-person audience. The charismatic host interviewing the relatable celebrity takes a new form as well — doctors discussing different medical conditions, political activists exploring different causes, and internet sensations hoping to extend their newfound virality. With podcasting, anyone can have their own show, and it can be about anything.

Anjie Cao, a Stanford graduate student and one of the hosts of the “Stanford Psychology Podcast,” cites the medium’s rise as a direct result of the increasing affinity for learning.

“People just like to get new information these days,” Cao said. “Podcasts are very convenient sources.”

In addition, Cao said she believes that

Crime Junkie

“Crime Junkie” is the seventh most popular podcast on Spotify and the most listened-to crime podcast on the app, a prominent genre in the podcast world. Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, two true crime enthusiasts, host the podcast. The episode we listened to was titled “MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Bethany Deaton from Kansas City.”

Overall, while listening, we enjoyed the unscripted feel of the podcast.

Despite the millions of dollars the podcast generates, the production still feels casual and authentic, with the two hosts exchanging ideas and engaging in

podcasts have become popular because they can be enjoyed anywhere.

“Listening to podcasts while driving, for example, will make you think ‘oh, I’m still learning,’” Cao said. “I’m not just driving and wasting my time.”

While all podcasts are grouped together, they can differ greatly in content.

For this edition, we listened to and review three podcasts. We picked these podcasts based on popularity, differing genres and purpose. v

genuine conversations during the episode.

We also really enjoyed listening to Flowers’ storytelling ability. She does an amazing job of maintaining the suspense of the story throughout the episode by not revealing too much information too fast.

Our biggest piece of criticism is that, at times, the two hosts steered away from the main story or focused on details that felt irrelevant, which made some sections of the episode boring.

For example, we felt like they focused a lot on small family details of the victim before the murder, which didn’t add much to the storyline.

Overall, we like the way the podcast is structured, with each episode telling a different story.

The Joe Rogan Experience

“The Joe Rogan Experience” has, for a number of years, been the most popular podcast in the entire world, topping Spotify’s charts.

In 2020, Spotify signed a deal with Joe Rogan to air his podcast exclusively for $200 million. Rogan hosts a different guest each episode, and a typical episode runs for around two and a half hours. Shane Smith, a co-founder of Vice Media, accompanied Rogan in the episode we listened to.

What we enjoyed most about the podcast was the number of different subjects dis cussed in one episode. Unlike typical podcasts, where each episode has an overarching theme, Rogan and his guests touch on dozens of topics.

In the episode with Smith, the pair’s conversation touched on topics, from interdimensional travelers to how someone can run a successful business — highlighting Rogan’s superpower, his ability to keep a good line of dialogue.

Despite the range in fame and success his guests have, Rogan always finds a way to

maintain a genuine conversation, one that makes you feel like you are sitting at his table right next to them.

The dialogue on the podcast is authentic and free-flowing, perfectly reflecting Rogan’s curiosity about any topic brought to him. Throughout the episode with Smith, we were blown away by Rogan’s ability to consistently ask interesting questions, exchanging ideas and going deeper into what Smith said and believed to keep the episode interesting.

Call Her Daddy

Evocative, raunchy and profoundly women-centric, “Call Her Daddy” is the second most popular podcast on Spotify, and the most popular female-hosted podcast on the site — a fact host Alexandra Cooper doesn’t shy away from, declaring in an interview with the New York Times in 2022 that “Call Her Daddy’ stands for feminism.”

The podcast’s guest stars reflect that desire — from Miley Cyrus to Halsey, some of the world’s most notable female figures have featured on Cooper’s podcast at one point or another.

On Oct. 6, the show saw one of its biggests guests yet: Current United States vice president and 2024 United States presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

In the interview, Harris details her goals for office, gives insight on her relationship with family and reflects on her tenure as vice president.

We thought Cooper did a great job conducting the in terview and asking Harris questions most media outlets stray away from

However, we still found ourselves bored at some points because of the amount of time Rogan spent on certain topics, but that’s one of the consequences of listening to a real, two-and-a-half hour conversation.

Overall, we had a very positive experience listening to Rogan’s podcast, and due to the extreme range of professions, backgrounds and cultures his guests have, anyone who listens to Rogan’s podcast is inevitably going to learn about many different perspectives on life from across the globe.

— like her view on parenthood as a stepmother to the lessons her mother taught her.

As the interview progressed, the podcast’s feminist-centric themes began to unveil, with Cooper focusing on Harris’s plans regarding Roe v. Wade and reproductive rights in general, and asking her what she’d do to “make this country safer for women?”

We found it impressive that even in a high profile interview like this, Cooper made sure the ideals, values and focus of the podcast remained prevalent. By honing in on Harris’ identity as a black woman, Cooper gave the presidential candidate a chance to relate with the country, allowing her to correlate her own experiences and identity with that of Americans across the country.

Overall, we enjoyed the episode greatly. Cooper’s magnetic personality and the vice president’s easygoing nature made for great rapport, and allowed Harris to communicate with America briefly before the election.

Photo by OTTO KISS MEYERFREUND

A PIONEERING popstar

CHAPPELL ROAN’S RISE TO FAME

I“’M YOUR FAVORITE artist’s favorite artist,” synth-pop singer Chappell Roan declared at the Coachella music festival this spring while embracing her signature fiery red curly hair, dramatic makeup and glittery, bold-colored costumes.

According to NPR, this was a reference to drag artist Sasha Colby, who is known for calling herself “your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen” and has inspired and influenced Roan’s hyper-confident, distinctive and fierce personality. Roan has built this reputation by standing up to fans and press regarding her privacy, shaping her as a controversial pop culture sensation as she skyrockets to fame.

Since her Coachella performance, her 2023 album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” has gone viral on social media. The album topped the charts, helping Roan grow from 1.5 million monthly Spotify listeners in March 2024 to over 42 million in November.

According to Forbes Magazine, she dominated major music festivals this year, breaking the attendance record at Lollapalooza, one of the largest music festivals in the world.

Palo Alto High School senior Lara Dumanli, who became a fan over the summer, said that despite Roan’s sudden rise to fame, many people don’t realize that she has been working in the music industry for a decade.

“She was actually signed at 17 years old, which is a big deal especially when she comes from the middle of nowhere in the Midwest,” Dumanli said. “Doing this for 10 years, but she never had her big break. … It shows dedication and devotion. You just know that she’s there because she loves making music.”

However, for many of Roan’s fans, her drastic rise to fame was sudden. Senior Aria Shah, who became a fan in 2022 when Roan performed as the opener for Olivia Rodrigo’s tour, said she felt shocked.

“The way she has blown up on TikTok is super unnatural,” Shah said. “It felt weird … and dystopian in a way.”

munity.

“I know a lot of people who are in that community find themselves relating to the songs and really reading into the lyrics and taking it as guidance and advice for themselves,” Zaner said.

Sophomore Stella Guo said Roan’s music emphasizes emotions and storytelling.

“Her music makes me feel so good and confident about myself and it makes me feel really empowered.”

While Roan is mainly known for her bold and intoxicating stage presence, sophomore Kate Lindstrom said that her relatable music and character also contributed to her fame.

“She kind of expresses that you have the freedom to do what you want and not let other people limit you,” Guo said. “I think that’s why her music makes me feel so good and confident about myself, and it makes me feel really empowered … like I can believe in myself.”

— STELLA GUO, Palo Alto High School sophomore

“Chappell has shown that she is not separate from the general population and she has separated herself from the modern-day artist … she’s not this billionaire, crazy superstar in Hollywood,” Lindstrom said. “Her persona in the public eye shows that she’s not crazy, super above us all, she’s a person. She’s just like any of us. I think that’s why a lot of Gen Z connect to her.”

However, her unique public persona goes beyond transparency with her fans. Junior Katherine Zaner, who became a fan over the summer, also said that she believes Roan’s music caters to the LGBTQ+ com-

Zaner agrees, saying Roan embraces her individuality more than other artists.

“A lot of conventional pop stars, they’ll kind of take what the audience wants from them and run with it,” Zaner said. “I feel like she’s just her own person … She doesn’t really care if you like it or not, because she knows that she’ll have that niche group of people behind her that will support her.”

Zaner said that she believes that withthis mindset, Roan emphasizes the importance of transparency in the way she wants to be treated by fans and the press. Boundaries with the public became increasingly important as her fame grew because fans were stalking her family.

“Since people got really famous, it’s just been expected of them to take all of the criticism and all the harassment that comes

with it,” Zaner said. “I think it’s really good that she speaks out about it and I feel like it’s catching on more. I feel like more and more celebrities are saying that ‘this isn’t okay, I’ve been treated a certain way and it’s really unacceptable.’”

Dumanli describes Roan as pushing for famous figures to be treated with more respect.

“We’re entering a new era … in regards to personal boundaries and human decency in the celebrity and singer world,” Dumanli said. “Just be cause you’re in the public eye doesn’t make you any less of a human. … The fact that she’s able to set those boundaries and not feel ashamed for setting those boundaries speaks to our new generation of standing up for ourselves and not taking what past generations have kind of allowed.”

On the other hand, junior Keerthi Raj said Roan deserves privacy, but she believes that fame comes with pros and cons that she should expect and be prepared for.

“I think with her not wanting to asso ciate with her fans is just rude,” Raj said. “I get you’re having a bad day, but you can’t have a bad day every day when you’re an artist.”

In addition to boundaries with fans, Roan’s sudden cancelation of two festival shows for health reasons has created controversy, according to The New York Times. Raj said that she believes Roan can be portrayed as obnoxious and not having a care in the world.

“We’re entering a era personal boundaries and in the celebrity and singer world.”

“A lot of people spend money to go to these concerts for her to just cancel it,” Raj said. “I get that things happen … but it’s not fair for her fans to love her so much to not address them back and apologize to them.”

Controversy around Roan also in creased on social media when she made a statement that she would not endorse any candidate in the U.S. Presidential Election.

Lindstrom said she believes all Roan did was stand up for herself.

“Celebrities don’t owe you political opinions at all,” Lindstrom said. “Just be

MARUWU SEICHA

IN THE CROWDED CORNER of downtown Palo Alto, Maruwu Seicha, a new matcha drink and dessert cafe, is bustling with visitors, each eager to try the vibrant green treats and drinks.

The modern wooden panels and tables contrast the green matcha and purple taro cheese tarts on display.

wu Seicha first started producing its matcha in Uji, Japan, and opened their first cafe in Japantown, San Francisco.

The cafe is quite busy during the late afternoon and evening.

The line, sometimes leading far out the front entrance, can have a customer waiting for more than 10 minutes during rush-hours.

On the menu, customers will not only find matcha-based desserts, but also a wide variety of Japanese snacks and flavors that hint at traditional culture.

More expensive items imported

straight from Japan are also for sale, like the Honey Hojicha Cake and Matcha Financier Cake.

The menu includes three ice cream flavors served in either a cone or cup: matcha, Hokkaido milk and ube.

Cheese tart flavors have four options: Hokkaido milk, Hojicha rich chocolate, matcha and fresh taro.

There is a large assortment of matcha lattes, matcha, smoothies, Hojicha lattes and pure teas to choose from. Verde picked four items to review: two drinks and two desserts. v

MATCHA TEA AND ICE CREAM

On the more expensive side of the menu is the Matcha Tea & Ice Cream, which was $8.50 for a medium size drink.

We ordered the drink with regular sweetness, topped with the Japanese dessert, Hokkaido ice cream.

When we first got our drink, the ice cream layered on top of the matcha stood tall, similar to what a drink with whipped cream might look like.

The ice cream sank into the matcha shortly after we received the drink. For the best experience, we suggest scooping all the ice cream before drinking the tea.

($8.50)

The ice cream was sweet, contrasting with the bitter matcha tea.

What makes the Hokkaido ice cream notable is its almost similar taste to the classic vanilla ice cream, yet the sweetness of this ice cream seems to be toned down.

After some time, the drink itself tastes sweeter because of the ice cream that melted into it.

We would recommend this drink because it gives both a taste of their classic matcha drink and their Hokkaido ice cream.

We got the Matcha No. 3 gelato ($6.90), an item that is only available at the Palo Alto location.

The gelato comes in four flavors, Hokkaido Milk, Matcha Pistachio, Hojicha Rich Chocolate, and Matcha No. 3. To get their classic matcha fla vor, we chose the Matcha No. 3, a gelato made with tea cer emonial grade matcha, a supposedly higher quality matcha than culinary grade versions.

Although the gelato wasn’t as visually appealing as the matcha cone, only being served with a smooth top in a cup, the high quality matcha gave the gelato a bold flavor.

There was a slight bitterness

from the matcha, providing the right contrast for a sweet but not too sweet flavor. The gelato was smooth and creamy, making it a great contender with other ice cream spots in downtown Palo Alto.

UJI MATCHA CHEESE TART

The Uji Matcha Cheese Tart, the only baked item we tried, is ranked the No. 1 most liked item on Doordash. With one piece costing $4.50, the tart has a distinctive look and piques customers’ curiosity with its appearance and filling.

The tart’s matcha filling is smooth and creamy, all enclosed within a crisp, golden tart shell, offering a blend of rich cheese and earthy green tea flavors. Surprisingly, the filling doesn’t spill out like how the advertisements online and in store portray. Instead, the filling was less runny and more sticky, with a thick creamy texture. The tart was sweet-

The matcha flavor in the filling was less prominent than in the drinks, but the crunchy shell paired with the soft filling made up for its bland taste. MATCHA NO. 3 CUP GELATO ($6.90)

Photos by KENSIE PAO

er than all the other items, except for the Hokkaido ice cream in the matcha tea.

Moving away from purely matcha based drinks and desserts, we ordered the Fresh Taro Matcha Latte.

We got a medium with their regular sweetness, whole milk and no extra toppings, for $6.50. With the added taro, which has a pudding-like texture, the drink adds an interesting blend of textures and flavors.

The bitterness of the matcha contrasts well with the subtle sweetness of the taro, making this drink the perfect balance of sweet and bitter. The taro pudding was creamy, and was almost like an added topping to the drink.

The drink had a generous amount of ice, taking up half of the cup, leaving little room for the actual drink.

If you want to step away from the general matcha drink and treats, the Fresh Taro Matcha Latte is a great option available for a different taste.

VirtuaL Escape

POPULAR VIDEO GAMES

ATEACHER CLICKS through a slideshow, outlining the day’s lesson. But across the room, a familiar scene is unfolding. Students are glued to their screens, tucking them under desks and behind notebooks, as they tap away: engrossed in the world of their favorite video game.

What was once a niche hobby has

turned into a significant part of modern entertainment and culture, especially for Generation Z. From nostalgic picks to newly discovered favorites, people are often drawn to video games that reflect their personalities and interests.

As video games continue to connect people and create communities, they impact aspects of players’ lives, both socially and emotionally. Palo Alto High School psychology teacher Christopher Farina talks about the psychological effects that gaming can have on adolescents.

“Video games, when they’re played

Minecraft

Many people play video games because they cultivate a community built on a common interest. The creator of the Paly Senior Minecraft Server, senior Giacomo Resmini, started the account and server as a way to bring the community of minecraft players together.

“I started this server because a couple of friends in my AAR [Advanced Authentic Research] class thought we should start an AAR server that we would all be in,” Resmini said.

“And as time went on, we wanted to add the whole Paly group.”

collaboratively, can really provide a big social opportunity for people to interact with each other,” Farina said. “It could foster teamwork and collaboration and those kinds of things, which are generally pretty good.”

However, Farina emphasizes the importance of balance.

“The downside is more just, the opportunity cost,” Farina said. “What are you not doing if you’re playing video games? Video games in moderation can be a really beneficial thing. Anything in excess is harmful.” v

While many people play video games with friends they already know, these platforms are also an easy way to meet new people.

“The thing that keeps me playing this game is probably the relationships I’ve made through the game,” Resmini said. “I know a ton of friends online because of bigger online servers and people in school I can connect with, even if I’m far away.”

“Minecraft” is a game that can be played in either creative or survival mode. Creative mode provides free access to all blocks, mobs [non-player characters] and cheat codes to perform certain actions like flying and teleporting. Survival mode challenges players by limiting their health, which can be decreased by falling, eating certain foods and mob attacks.

“I feel like one thing that’s the best for new players in “Minecraft” is to stretch your ideas and your ability to think,” Resmini said.

The creator of the server believes that everyone should give “Minecraft” a try.

“I’d recommend it to everyone,” Resmini said. “I know it’s great for anyone who enjoys creative freedom.”

Roblox

As the video game community grows, many new games are becoming popular. According to CivicScience, a consumer analytics platform, in recent years the mobile game “Roblox” has grown in popularity, as 48% of Americans age 13-24 years old played “Roblox” in 2023, in comparison to 42% in 2022 and 12% in 2020.

Juliana Sandoval, a senior at Paly, enjoys the variety of games Roblox has to offer.

“I like the fact that they’re [games/servers] all different. I think that’s what keeps me coming back and playing,” Sandoval said.

Aside from the recommended age requirement of nine years old, “Roblox” is an all inclusive game.

BRAWL STARS

Another game rising to popularity in the mobile play scene is “Brawl Stars.” According to Statista, in April 2024, “Brawl Stars” generated 10.91 million downloads worldwide in comparison to 2.62 million the year before.

FIRST PERSON

Paly Freshman Tucker Gracon saves his allowance to spend on “Valorant,” a first-person tactical hero shooter video game.

“I’ve probably spent close to $4,000 [USD],” Gracon said. “Valorant’s a free game. Most FPSs [First Person Shooter Games] are free, but there’s in-game transactions for skins and rewards that you can earn.”

Although Gracon also plays video games to keep in touch with online friends, he finds that FPS’s provide more than just entertainment.

“I like the adrenaline I get from being able to compete with others for higher ranks and higher competitive spots,” Gracon said. “I like the idea of being able to work as a team and take down another team.”

“I play a lot of dress up games, but there’s also horror games,” Sandoval said. “I love tycoons a lot. I don’t see a reason not to play. There’s a game for everyone.”

For Sandoval, part of the appeal of “Roblox” is its nostalgic feeling.

“I play ‘Roblox’ not just because I have fun doing it but also because I like to hold onto things I loved doing as a kid,” Sandoval said. “It makes me feel more like myself.”

“Brawl Stars” is a multiplayer game in which the main goal is for players to win matches against rival teams, earn trophies, and level up in order to unlock new characters.

Paly senior Aaron Nance was first introduced to the game by a friend at summer camp and has not stopped playing since.

“Well I have to admit that the game is pretty addictive,” Nance said. “They have lots of updates that keep players interested and have lots of collaborations.”

While many video games are free to download, some have in-game purchases and even monthly subscriptions. In “Brawl Stars,” in-app purchases allow players early access to certain aspects of the game and higher ranks.

“I spend like 10 bucks a month,” Nance said. “A lot of people probably see that as a problem but as long as you find a balance like it can be it can be okay and as long as you’re healthy, I think it’s fine.”

SHOOTER

The thrill of firstperson shooter games, along with the strate gic aspects interests many.

“I think ‘Fortnite’ is such a spectacular game because it’s mostly a game where you have to strategize, and that’s a lot of fun,” se nior Ramses Luna said.

Text by STEFAN ERIKSSON

A Better

PROPOSED FIX TO OUR VOTING SYSTEM

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE have just fired Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In their place is our new boss, Donald Trump. Whether or not you support Trump or Harris, we know our election system is faulty.

The two party system we have now is simple, but ineffective. Voters’ voices aren’t heard as loudly as they would be with a different voting structure. The solution to many of our election problems is to adopt Ranked Choice Voting, which will help increase diversity in candidates and parties running, in turn allowing voters to pick the candidate that most aligns with their values.

RCV is where voters rank their candidates in order of preference rather than only being able to choose one. If your top candidate receives the least amount of total votes, your vote will then be passed on to your second favorite candidate, and then your third and so on. This allows more parties to have a chance of winning

To put this into a real-life example, if you voted for Jill Stein, a Green Party candidate, as first preference and Kamala Harris as your second preference, as Stein received fewer votes than the other two candidates, your vote would transfer to Harris. In our current system, you would be practically throwing away your vote if you voted for Stein, as 628,129 other voters did in this year’s election according to newsstation.com.

For as long as most of us can remember, voters have only had the choice between two candidates despite there often being multiple independent can-

didates. It was no different in this year’s election where the two choices that could affect the election were Trump or Harris. The reason for this weird phenomenon is called the spoiler effect.

This occurs when a third-party candidate “spoils” a major candidate simply by participating. When people vote for a third-party candidate whose values are similar to those of a major party candidate (of the Democratic or Republican Party) this happens. Because the third-party candidate will likely lose, voting for the third party instead of the major party will decrease the majority party’s chance of success, therefore allowing the opposition to win.

By voting for a spoiler candidate you are essentially stealing the vote from a stronger candidate, causing their chances to dwindle.

This is the main reason why it’s impossible for third party candidates to gain a significant following, as voting for a spoiler candidate would take votes away from one of the two parties, causing the other one to win. The last time the spoiler effect was seen on a large scale was in 1968.

“the Republican party. It’s undemocratic that someone with so little of the country’s votes could be put into office.

According to 270 To Win, if RCV were in place, Hubert H. Humphrey would have won with a strong majority. Instead, we used the two-party system and the less supported candidate won.

In addition, RCV reduces polarization, according to Karsen Wahal, a senior at Stanford University studying math and economics who co-authored a 38page game theory paper on RCV.

“Voting [using RCV] tends to select winners of elections that are more moderate than the current system,” Wahal said.

If extreme candidates win, more people will be dissatisfied. RCV combats this by electing more moderate candidates.

“People think of our current time as polarized with extreme candidates and winners on both sides, and think that ranked choice bidding will help reduce that polarization and extremism in this country,” Wahal said.

In our current system, everyone is attacking each other.”

—

EVAN LOW, Congressional Candidate for District 16

According to 270 To Win, the last time a non-Democratic or non-Republican candidate won any electoral votes was in Richard Nixon’s first term. Back then, George C. Wallace, a member of the American Independent Party, accumulated 46 electoral votes across five Southern states, his main reason for support being his opposing views on desegregating the South. Wallace had run as a Democratic nominee three times before moving to his new party.

In the election that year, fewer than half of the votes cast were for Nixon and

In addition to giving voices to voters and reducing polarization, RCV can reduce or fully eliminate dirty politics.

Our current system encourages negative campaigning. All you have to do is beat the other candidate, you don’t need a majority vote. Candidates in an RCV system would have to appeal to all voters. RCV could minimize these side effects. It is seen all over the country and one such place is right in our backyard.

The race for California’s 16th Congressional District is an example of mudslinging. In this past election, Sam Liccardo and Evan Low ran to replace former congresswoman Anna Eshoo in a top-two election system. During the election, when I turned on practically every

ballot

local channel, both sides were slandering each other with allegations and insults during the ad breaks.

Low, who lost the race to Liccardo, has championed Assembly Bill 1227 that promotes RCV. The bill would allow RCV to be adopted in Santa Clara County.

“In our current system, everyone is attacking each other,” Low told Verde. “I don’t want to do that, that’s not me.”

According to Low, the implementa tion of RCV in places such as San Fran cisco has decreased mudslinging.

“[With] RCV in San Francisco, peo ple are not throwing mud at each other as much because they want the second-place vote,” Low said.

For national elections which include the presidential election, states decide the laws and voting system.

Currently, all states use the popular vote results from the general election to decide which political party chooses the individuals who are appointed. States can decide if they want to change this system and they could theoretically change it to a RCV-based system. There are no fed eral laws that disallow RCV.

However, RCV still has its downsides. As of June, 10 states have outlawed the use of RCV. A movement at the forefront of the push is Save Our States. They focus on defending the constitutional pow er of the states and helping them use that power to defend our republic.

Harry Roth, the director of outreach for Save our States, advocates banning RCV for various reasons, one of them being ballot exhaustion.

“For a lot of people, either they don’t know enough about it [RCV] so they won’t rank enough candidates, so that ballot gets eliminated, or just based on principle, you may not want to rank a few people because you don’t want any of those people to win,” Roth told Verde.

This argument says that if people

don’t rank candidates, there is no change to the system. RCV offers voters the opportunity to choose multiple, but doesn’t penalize if you only pick one. In addition, if RCV is implemented its usage will be normalized and in turn voters will become more familiar with it.

Roth also said that there were tech

process. I believe that with more awareness of the subject and technological improvements will solve these issues in the future and it can become a part of our current system.

Changing a system that has been set in stone for hundreds of years may seem impossible.

The reality is, RCV is not a foreign concept to the U.S. According to the RCV Resource Center, there have been 62 jurisdictions where RCV has been adopted, including San Francisco where they have used it in all city elecitons. Every city and county should be following San Francisco’s example.

What say you, Palo Alto? v

Text by LARA SASLOW

PATRIOTISM

CONNECTING WITH ARGENTINA

IHAVE ALWAYS BEEN fascinated with Argentina and the thought of being half Argentine due to my mother’s nationality. As I was growing up, my family would make empanadas, eat alfajores and watch Messi playing soccer on TV. I spoke Spanish before I could speak English, but beyond the stereotypical aspects of Argentine life, I was dying to know what authentic Argentine culture was like.

I finally got the chance to visit Argentina during winter break of my sophomore year. My family and I stayed in a small apartment in the capital, Buenos Aires, about 20 minutes from Villa del Parque, the neighborhood that my uncle, aunt and cousin lived in and where my mother and my uncle were raised.

I saw how my family in Argentina lived. Despite being well-educated and employed, they struggle with everyday expenses, much like most of the country’s dwindling middle class. During my visit, there was one topic brought up again and again: the economy.

We had arrived just when Javier Milei had become the president. My family was devastated, believing his “Trump-like” character would be the last straw of an already struggling country.

Although Argentina’s inflation rate has been fluctuating, it hit a recent high of 289.4% in April, according to the BBC. Since Milei was inaugurated in December 2023, he has made drastic changes to the economy, devaluing the Argentine peso by 50% and rapidly cutting down on public spending.

“The rates for essential services [electricity, water, gas, etc.] and public transportation have gone up a lot, at a higher percentage than our salaries,” said Adriana

Juarez, my aunt, who lives in Buenos Aires. Argentina was one of the world’s wealthiest countries in the early 1900s, according to an article on SpringerOpen, but a series of corrupt governments threw it all away.

While visiting, I saw a split between people on this topic. Taxi drivers and vendors raved about the president, believing he was the solution to the country’s economic issues as he prioritizes stabilizing the economy at all costs. At the same time, my family would speak about the problems he had caused, like increased poverty and fewer job opportunities.

“It is true that our economy was not doing well,” my uncle, Martin Sozzi, said. “Especially in the final part of the government of Alberto Fernandez, the previous president, inflation was very high and now Milei is trying to lower it and put the public accounts in order. But in this search for balance he is leaving many people out of the system. It is a brutal economic adjustment, which is carried out regardless of the social consequences it generates.”

After visiting, I really felt connected to the people. It hurt even more to see my family’s struggle and the headlines about the economy. I feel Argentine, but I don’t have to go through what my family does. I love the people, but I don’t live with them.

My experiences and interactions with the country have made me no less proud to be Argentine. They have inspired me to do all I can to better the country and preserve its beauty.

I’ve wondered before if my family in Argentina wishes that they lived a life like mine, with more privileges and opportunities. I once asked my mom, “can’t we help them get the money to leave the country?” She scoffed. This wasn’t the issue, she said. They love the country, they just want it to work. It’s their country, their soccer, their tango, their “mate” tea. It’s not about giving up on the country — it’s about saving it. v

AND PRIDE

NAVIGATING MY IRANIAN HERITAGE

OH REALLY? THAT SUCKS.”

That was the reaction of a middle school classmate when I told her where my family is from. This, plus many other experiences throughout my life, have made it much harder for me to be proud of my culture. Iran carries some negative associations with it, most of them for good reason. When people think of Iran, some associations immediately come to mind: images of hundreds of anti-West demonstrators gathering to burn the American flag, women being beaten for showing half an inch of hair and rampant inflation making one dollar equivalent to 66,000 toman.

While there are anti-Western Iranians, women are stripped of personal freedoms and skyrocketing inflation making affording basic necessities nearly unattainable, the media often fails to paint a balanced picture of what’s happening. News tends to focus on negative headlines: wars and revolutions, but rarely delves into history and culture. While much of what western news shows is true, there is a hidden side to the country and my culture that is harder to see. Iran’s history has been marred with wars, revolutions and protests. According to Britannica, the Islamic Revolution began in 1978 with the overthrowing and removal of the Shah. The new Islamic government enforced dress codes, like mandatory head coverings for women. It was also during this time that the Iranian hostage crisis gripped the United States, as 52 American hostages were held in the U.S. embassy for 444 days. This event has shaped the relationship and dynamics between the U.S. and Iran, both politically

and culturally.

Curious people have asked me probably a hundred questions on why I’m not a Muslim, why I don’t wear a hijab, if my dad has multiple wives and if I like bacon.

Up until second grade I didn’t get many questions about my culture because my conversations were dominated by talks of Polly Pockets and four square. Still, I remember feeling like I was different, especially because of my name. For months, I begged my parents to call me Saige after the American Girl doll of the year.

Later on, as the questions I got asked started to ramp up, I got more defensive. Any question about Iran, genuine or not, would send me into a fit of rage, with my entire goal being to educate my fourth grade classmates of their ignorance. This phase was isolating and exhausting and ended fairly quickly. For years, I was avoidant of the topic, refusing to tell people where my family was from. When people would ask me where my family was from or what my name meant, I attempted to awkwardly change the subject. I would avoid telling my classmates why I had missed class for Persian holidays, worried about the follow-up questions they might ask. Throughout my life, I have had many opportunities to learn about and appreciate my culture, like visiting Iran and celebrating Persian New Year each year. I met so many people in both Iran and the U.S. that were unapologetically confident in themselves and their heritage.

I realized after this that most people were not interested in a long-winded discussion on Iranian history. I also recognized that it was too mentally taxing for me to constantly switch between being openly proud of my culture, solely based on what was happening in Iran at the time. After all my experiences throughout the years, I realize now that my pride for my culture doesn’t need to be tied to the actions of the country itself. Through all the ups and downs in Iran over the years, my pride for my culture doesn’t need to waver. v

Palo Alto Unified School District

Palo Alto High School

50 Embarcadero Road

Palo Alto, CA, 94301